Exiting Information

The vast majority of children who exit Part C are eligible for Part B (91%). This percentage has remained relatively constant over the past five years, varying between 90% and 93%. The remaining children have moved out of state, been withdrawn by parents, were not able to be contacted, or died.

Ensuring a seamless transition between Part C and Part B is critical for maintaining appropriate services for children as they enter preschool. The number of children who seem to be “lost” in this transition warrants attention.

Children and youth exit Part B for a number of reasons. They graduate, age out, transfer to regular education, drop out, or die. From 2014 to 2018, there has been a decrease in the number of youth graduating with a regular diploma, from 232 to 185. This has been accompanied by an increase in the numbers of youth who have aged-out from 224 to 253.

The need for post-secondary education or employment has important implications for the continued development of effective post-secondary supports for students who are exiting Part B every year, whether through having received a diploma or certificate, simply aging out, or transitioning to adult services. The growing number of youth who drop out of school also has important implications for effective educational programming and the continued development of effective post-secondary supports.